CCAF REFUSES TO TAKE PART IN INAUGURATION OF AKHTAMAR CHURCH

Armradio.am
29.03.2007 11:00

Co-ordination Council of Armenian Organizations of France (CCAF)
refuses to take part in inauguration of Akhtamar Church.

In a letter addressed on March 26, 2007 to the governor of Van,
chairman of the CCAF, Alexis Govciyan declined the invitation to go
to Van for inauguration of Sourp Khatch. He justifies his refusal
"after an attentive examination" by the fact that the Church of the
Holy Cross "belongs to the Armenian heritage and consequently, is
and must remain the property of the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey
which notably must be able to celebrate masses there."

Also, Alexis Govciyan points out in his letter, that the change of
the name from Akhtamar to Agdamar, its transformation into a museum
without any reference to its belonging to the cultural heritage
of Armenia, brought CCAF to decline Van’s Governor invitation,
independent correspondent Jean Eckian informs.